Cal fires Justin Wilcox: What’s next for GM Ron Rivera as the Bears wade into a frenzied hiring market with no room for mistakes

Cal football general manager Ron Rivera announced Sunday afternoon that “the time has come for new leadership” and dismissed coach Justin Wilcox after “careful consideration.”

Let’s dispense with the diplomatic phrasing: The time for a change came Saturday night, one second after the abysmal 31-10 loss to Stanford — a performance so horrific it defied description even for a program that has produced a string of atrocious losses over the years.

Wilcox was on fragile ground prior to that point, but the face plant on enemy ground, which followed two weeks of preparation, sealed his fate.

The Bears (6-5), who are bowl eligible with one game remaining (SMU), will conduct a national search for Wilcox’s replacement. Whether they examine every cranny of major college football for the best candi